First ... a Mother's Day gift from Callie

I realize it is very chic to collect rusty ol farm stuff nowadays, but I must say that most of the herb bed's good junk was collected in the late 60's when Larry and I would go treasure hunting on his grandfather's farm land. I liked it, I kept it and have enjoyed it ever since. When Callie saw the rusty rooster, she knew it needed to live with me, since I can't really have real poultry. Now Alex and the light of her life, trek a friend's farm land and bring me more wonderful old bottles and rusty stories.

Here's a thought Carolyn, your descendants will one day be digging up your rusty old computer cases,,, and planting them up with herbs.

oh, I almost forgot,, here's another chickie surrogate

Speaking of rusty iron....My brother says to go to Forney, east of Dallas for some wonderful buys on yard art.....

Good grief! I'm always finding rusty ol' stuff. Usually just after I trip over it. There is a big old combine (piece of farm equipment used for harvesting grains) sitting on top of one of our hills, and we can't figure out what to do with it. If anyone wants it for yard art...be my guest!

Cute presents Maggie. However, the reality of the thing is that chickens (uncontrolled) and flower beds don't mix. See, its like this. chickens scratch the dirt, and they make chicken sized holes in the dirt to take dust baths in. Believe me when I tell you that in less than 20 min. about 10 chickens can wipe out a previously gorgeous flower bed. Thus, the chicken tractor. They have to stay where you put them.

Anything smaller than a combine ... I'll take it. Trade you some future antique computer cases for rusty stuff ;-)
I have a cyber friend in W Virginia with lovely farm creatures who has warned me about chickens in a garden, so I had given up on the idea earlier. Course, the tractor thing might be a possibility... Larry cringes...

Until I saw the size of the pens, I did think that they had to be moved with tractor ... but couldn't help teasing about it.
What you said about orange yolks... YES that is what I crave ... tasty, free range chicken eggs! I eat a lot of eggs, love eggs, the more flavor the better!

Carolyn, does the combine have parts and pieces that might be used for yard art? We could tear it apart and see what we get? Any of those disc that look like Texas sunflowers?

Hey Gail, I sculpt, got welding gear?

I don't know what's on it. Come out and look at it. I think my rule is going to be though that you have to take the whole thing. But, then again, I don't follow rules very well.

Oh, but I do have a big metal barn that needs to be torn down---lots of good aged metal and gray (or is it "grey"?---another rule I can't remember) barnwood.

Maggie, I really do like that rusty rooster in your garden.

Thank you Carolyn, I'll tell Callie. My rust work would definitely be more rustic than his exacting shape!
Gray and grey ... one's American English and one's English English and its one the those that I can never sort out because I grew up speaking and reading a different one every 4 years. How ever Terry spells it, is the wrong way over here.
Terry, how should we not spell it here?
and I defy anyone to diagram that last sentence.

I walked up to the potting bench today and about 6 sparrow parents flew up like wedding doves. Here's why:

The colour/color is grey/gray, surprised/surprized at you people, at least your Microsoft spellchecker works for you, when I check using Frontpage2000 I have to re-check most of what it picks up using a dictionary to see whether I really have got it wrong, or if it is just trying to teach me American again.

I hate you Maggie, I've been trying to get some bird pics (wild birds) for my garden/wildlife site for four months now with no luck. I suppose I could show those the cat gets for me, but they are just not the same with no heads.

Mine's just a wind fall Terry, or in this case a nest fall. But his face is so much sweeter than can be seen there. The light didn't look like it was glaring off the metal when I took it. Our digi camera just can not do shots in bright day light - witness the too bright a shots in April cme strl. It wasn't such a bright light that a reg camera would have washed out the color, but the digi did. Is it just my camera or are all the digi s that way?

Yes, the z in surprize - that one too - ARG!! Hope your Word program has Anglo/Amer spell choices for you. It was what helped me get over most of my glitches after all these years. But go ahead and write Anglo for us. I love nostalgia :)

Yes Maggie I find the same problem with the digi camera, have to darken and improve contrast using Paint Shop Pro, also have to increase saturation to put some colour back into lots of the shots. I also have great difficulty with white flowers, they end up with a blue aura around them. Having said that I am very pleased with the sharpness of the pictures, you should see them at 1600x1200 resolution, but still better for close work than distance shots.

Carolyn, my hubby has offered to build two nightstands for me when we find old barnwood source! You're it! Do I have to take the WHOLE barn too???? eeeehhhhh! Maggie, it's time for a field trip!

And, honey, I could diagram that sentence in 2 seconds. It was my favorite thing to do in English classes! Is that sad or scary????

Oh yeh. I have barnwood...and lots of metal. I'll attach a photo of the barn...after the storm damage. Since then, the strong winds have torn even more of the roof off and knocked down one of the sides.

Maggie, I just have to ask. Are you writing an article on Monet's gardens?

I look forward to hearing about your tornado storm C. on another venue ;-)
Yes, I am working on Monet's Garden for the next Virtual Stroll article. This one will be shown through two different viewfinders - two takes on the same place, same time, different minds .... double the pics. Hope to publish it this wkend, knock wood.
I loved diagraming too, Gail, like a jig puzzle, yes?
On the birds, our most exciting garden visitor was an Orchard Oriole, from more southern haunts. He was feeding on the yucca flowers one year, which have just ended their bloom this week. Didn't spot him this year, though.

Carolyn, thank you for helping me pressure Maggie into getting Monet's stroll done! I love it! Now she simply MUST do it SOON! I'm sure she has nothing else to do! Ha!

Jig puzzles. Reminds me of visits to my grandparents and one of my favorite aunts who all live in Oklahoma. When I retire, jigsaw puzzles are going to come back into my life! I sure am feeling nostalgic today. I hope it's not one of my weird premonitions ahappenin'! I better make phone calls to grandmothers this week!

Oh the pressure! Two tour groups this week, rellies coming Mon and now this. Gail, does your cleaning lady work Sundays ;-)
Wish I had grannies. Hugs to them from me.

She does do Sundays...if you want her...$10/hour. Call and I'll give you name and number.

Maggie, I'm ooooohhhh so lucky. I've known all my grandparents and one set of great grandparents. My (great) Gramma Scott died at 104! Each of them has contributed to my life in many ways -- especially when it comes to the gardening. Veggies from one set of grandparents and flowers from the other set. I feel very blessed to have known them while I was growing up and even when I got married both sets were there and my great gramma!

Are you any cheaper ?
oxoxox

Someone once said to me, 'you are going to make the neatest Grandma'. At this rate, I'd better live as ripe as your Gramma Scott, to have a chance of finding out.
Just kidding, Callie ; and forget it Alex.

Maggie, you know I come cheap. I work for plants and poo. And prefer both for Christmas, anniversary (when we remember) and birthday gifts. Aren't I easy! People laugh but hey, they don't have a garden looking like mine! Oh wait, I shouldn't say that right now. Ugh! Tired of plastic already and it's only been a few weeks.

Gail, I heard Black plastic containers are in this year!!!!!You are in style!! You know I have often heard of container gardening and you have taken it to new levels.....Good luck with the watering..........

I've heard of people working for peanuts Gail, but never before for horse kgey. Would you be prepared to offer your services for guinea pig droppings, they come in nice easy to apply sizes?

I just had a thought Gail, you are a bit of an early bird and will probably be reading this as you have your breakfast. If that is the case, don't read the bit about the droppings until after you finish eating.

Don't worry Terry, I believe Gail has a strong stomach for the reading of DOOdoo or Poopoo.....
Maggie you know my favorite artist is Monet....even though he was French.......

Terry, I'll take any poo! I especially like it nicely bagged and composted! But I'll take the other stuff. I was an early bird this a.m. but headed to Dallas for run on antique and furniture shops. Instead ended up at lots of outdoor/garden type shops. How does that happen???!!! I thought I was REALLY gettin' to work outside tomorrow but I came home and found a note from the hubby that he had okayed the painters to start scraping and caulking tomorrow. Ugh! He must have not been hearing me when I said AFTER memorial day they can come. Having workers in my garden is not what I wanted for my short 3-day weekend. Can't decide who to compost first -- the painters or the husband! Looks like I'll be on the forum for the day tomorrow! I hate to be the garden with workers out there too. Geez!

You mentioned Monet, David, is that the Monet who had a garden at Giverny? I seem to remember hearing something about it somewhere....hmmmm now where was that?
Don't take any notice Maggie, I know it will be wonderful when you get it finished.....when..

I'm totally ignoring all that.
You're only going to get toad today, instead.

and remember,,, I can erase any post I want to
;-)

You'd be erasing an awful lot of 'em if you started...between me, David AND Terry. Who else? Carolyn, don't you want to see Monet's garden?

Can't finish it today ... there's a 3-day bowling marathon going on, that I'd rather watch and I have new box of bonbons to work on.

Ok Gals, we've tolerated the guy's visions of bathing beauty fantasies. If you could conjure up an escort to wisk you away to Monet's, what would he be like?

Two words: Antonio Banderas

More than two words: Mel Gibson in a kilt. Or Harrison Ford on Air Force One wearing his Indiana Jones outfit. Yummy!

Phew, don't know about you David but Maggie had me worried there for a minute, I thought they were going to pick someone who could give us a bit of competition, but I think we are pretty safe with their choices......

Yea, Terry I thought that it was going to be trouble there for a while... but those guys don't Garden!!!! Now as for as having an assistant....I could go for Salma Hayek...I don't know how much Gardening I would get done?? I sure would have fun though?? What about you Terry????

But Gail, think about Antonio singing to you as you stroll through the garden. I like Mel and Harrison too, but ....you have heard Antonio sing, haven't you?

I'm sticking with the gardening theme for my choice David. Don't suppose you people will have heard of Charlie Dimmock, our female gardening sensation, Maggies relatives will fill her in on the details no doubt. She has had a meteoric rise to fame in TV gardening circles over here, part brought about by her enthusiasm and desire to get stuck in no matter how physical or filthy the task, and part by her (wait for it Gail) reluctance to wear a bra under her fairly tight fitting tops. I said she gardens with gusto and when she moves, she really moves if you get my drift David. You can check her out at www.geocites.com/TelevisionCity/Satellite/1311/
She is a water garden specialist, David, if you need help with your ponds.

Terry, toooo funny! I'll have to point out to my hubby that there are advantages to having a pond in the backyard! At least two of 'em.

Carolyn, I have heard him sing. I thought he was better than Madonna in the Evita movie!

By the way, Maggie, if those bon-bons are from England, please save one for me! I love the choco-lots my friend brought me back a few years ago!

We call her Charlie Jiggle, Terry. No one gets in my way when they are playing Ground Force on BBC America.
Annnnd I want to live with the gals on 'Absolutely Fabulous'. Wouldn't it be great to let it all hang out like that - mentally and socially,,, not physically.
Ref to bonbons and bowling,, I was hoping the sarcasm would come thru - been a bit busy this week! But some chocs and other very significant comestibles arrived after that posting Gail. I now have a new favorite brand - THORTONS - to die.
And my choice escort... a poet, artist and gentleman... who speaks more French than me - and that's easy to muster.

Good to see you still spell my name wrong even when talking chocs Maggie..... ;-)

Btw I am unfortunately not related to the owners of the company that produces those wonderful chocs, but my wife Christine does make great sacrifices to make sure they stay in business.....like only dieting between boxes.

Where have they been all my life, and here's the -N- I left out. Best inbetween-diet food I could ever imagine!

Hey, quit with the Chocolate!! My mind is on Ponds all of a sudden? Gee, Terry I wish I could pick-up that program on my telley....Maybe I will visit on the web-site? Just for gardening purposes only of COURSE!!!!I guess it adds new meaning to twin peaks?

The last paragraph of the May 21, 1999 Come Stroll article
http://www.maggiesgarden.com/Come_Stroll/come_stroll.html
tells about our little night geckos. I finally caught them with camera.

And someone else has been eager to catch them too. Meet Alex's sweet soppy cat, Mia.

Gee I wish I had lizards....I done everything i can to keep lizards around, but to no eval......

I always wondered about the Geckos that seem to spend all their lives indoors, where on earth do they lay their eggs, or do they give birth to fully formed babies, do you ever see any tiny ones Maggie?

Do you have newts in your garden David, they are the closest I get to lizards, not enough sun and warmth in my garden for reptiles.

I did once have a black whip snake as a pet, about three feet long and boy could it move. I bought it on my day at technical college, and took the snake, in it's cardboard box into the maths class. Someone mentioned that I had it to the lecturer, and he asked if he could see it, saying he had always been fascinated by snakes. I tried to explain that it was a bit quick, but don't think I convincingly conveyed just how fast it was. Well I lifted the lid slightly and this streak of black emerged and shot along the length of the bench and dropped to the floor in less than a second, but the maths teacher was faster, he was a big guy, but in the blink of an eye, he was at the opposite side of the room, with his back against the wall and uttering the words, "MY GOD IT IS BLOODY FAST!!!, could you please put it back in the box". In case you are wondering I did pass maths that year, guess he was frightened I would return with the snake for another year if he failed me.

Terry, I don't even have any native lizards. I have introduced Anole's two or three times in different parts of the yard.....but to no aveil...I don't know if it's the birds or neighborhood Cat's....that either ate them or drove them away......

Your lot is so dark and damp that the Anols may have left for sun-basking sites David. But the geckos should love it. I often happen upon them in 'under a rock' sort of cool damp places in the daytime. The other thing that attracks them is lights on at night, to lure their dinner.

And yes, Terry, we see the babies, but have never found a gecko egg. In all these years I found one Anole lizard egg that hatched in my hand - so I know it was def a liz egg. In fact, it was the first liz I had ever seen in this garden. Think the story is on the wildlife page. Larry claims he can hear little liz voices praising 'Momma Liz', whenever I'm in the garden.

Now I know why the rodent populous has been greatly reduced - a feral cat has had a litter on our block. I thought it was because the neighbors were taking care of the prob.
Anyway, I hadn't thought much about the fact that the kittens are growing up amongst billions of squirrels until today, when Beau startled one of the 2 month old kittys. It shot straight up a tree trunk at lightening speed, then flew to the next one with all 4s straight out, caught the bark and kept on going. I've never seen the mother fly like a squirrel - it must be an 'environmental influence', rather than heredity!

Wish I had a pic of this, so Gail would believe me! The source of all our cable problems has been traced to our line. Squirrels ate it. Scheduled for repair soon, but after 3000 attempts, have finally managed to publish Gail's personal tour of Giverny so she will stop monetmoaning. This one's for you baby! oxoxoxxxxxoxoxoooxoox
and don't monetmoon here, there's a new topic for it ;-)

Look's like the squirrels won again Maggie, try 3001.

It only took 5 repair to fix the major problem Terry! and we are still having problems with one other connection!
About you not catching pics of your garden birds, here's a dove for ya. Ours used to be quite tame and often nested at eye level before the squirrel-flying feral cats moved in. We used to enjoy a lot of sites like this. Here's one from this spring..

That 'repair' was supposed to read 'repair MEN' or in this case, notrepairmen.

They are silly birds aren't they, picking the most precarious of nest sites. I have had three pairs, that's six doves all sitting on top of each other because they all chose to lay in the same nest. At least yours picked a place with built in defences, those thorns look vicious. Lovely looking dove, what species Maggie? hard to make out the size, but it looks quite small.

How interesting to learn that doves are notorious for building nests in strange places. I thought it was just mine that were warped! But I've never seen more than one pair take squatters rights like those 6 of yours. How bizarre. I was glad you noticed those thorns - because that is the killer rose Mermaid that I was moaning about the other day - and that is only the 'baby' bush that I rooted off the really big one!
She is a Mourning Dove and in case you ask - I'm prepared with its proper name Zenaida macroura ;-). Do you know what the 'mourning' refers to Terry? I have a theory, but won't risk it without asking you first. We also have 2 other varieties, the White-winged (Zenaida asiatica) and one that folks call the 'Mexican dove' which I think might be the 'Inca dove', Columbina inca. What kind do you have and does it migrate up for summer?

Not sure about the mourning, Maggie, unless it's because of the dark wing markings. We have the Collared dove (Streptoplelia decaocto), they have spread North through this country over the past few decades and arrived here maybe 15-20 years ago. They are very prolific and can be seen and heard everywhere. We also have Wood pigeons (Columba palumbus), these are a little larger than our feral pigeon, have a white neck band and white wing markings which only show when in flight. Both these species are resident not migratory.
In my aviary I have Diamond doves (Geopelia cuneata) and Tambourine doves (Turtur tympanistria), the Diamond is a tiny(about sparrow size) white spotted grey dove with a long tail and red eye ring, the Tambourine is a little larger and stockier with a shorter tail.....why am I typing all this??? :-) just see pics below.

Your doves are beautiful Terry. Wouldn't it be wonderful to have those Diamond Doves in the garden! I was at a country garden last weekend where peacocks were strolling around and hanging off the trees. Now THAT would be fun to have lurking around my place!

The mother and litter of feral cats have moved on and my birds are moving back in. Even the dove pictured above, is back on the same nest. I was looking at her today and realized she is a Mexican dove, not the Mourning, I said earlier.

Also, the hummingbirds arrived last week - right on schedule. So far we have seen a Black-chinned hummer and what might be his lady. The smaller females are always harder to identify with their motley colors.

Anyone else spotted some in their garden?

Maggie, You might want to re-think having peacocks around your house. They would leave the same calling cards on your walk and porches as the geese leave on mine. Plus, the added bonus that since they roost in trees....they can also bomb!

Another case of fantasy being best left as such.
;-)

I was so pleased with the lack of grasshoppers in the garden this spring and then POW, in July it seemed Terry's Pandora had released a locust plague addressed to me. On the verge of bringing in 2 of Caro's young turkeys for a hopper blitz, the varmits seemed to suddenly disappear overnight. After discovering the following in the border and seeing the mother dove pictured above tending her new infant, I've realized that the garden's bird population has gained a new generation, all gaping to be fed and the parents are thankfully obliging with every hopper I hate.

What it lacks in plumage it makes up for in song. The Mocking bird is the state bird of Texas Terry and has the most beautiful repertoire in spring. But sometimes not so - at 3am for instance. They are named for having the ability to mimic others' tunes but their volume always gives them away.

There you go again, Maggie, getting all the best wildlife shots. Amazing how many insects and grubs a young bird can get through.

Congrats Maggie! Now, how will I explain to my little turkeys that they don't get to go to the City after all?

Carolyn, tell the turkeys there is always.....Thanksgiving and Christmas???????

Yep, one's joining us for the hols!
Realizing that, I'm REALLY glad we didn't have him as a house guest this month after all.

You are right David, we do think alike, that was exactly what I thought when I read Carolyns post. She could even tell them the holidays wouldn't be the same without them and that everyone is looking forward to seeing them there.

We have 4 new turkeys that hatched in the past 2 days from the last time I booted a hen off her nest. There's another hen brooding as well, so I'm going to get her off the nest tomorrow and incubate the eggs for the remainder of the time, which shouldn't be long, since she's been brooding for about 3 weeks. They are so cute when they are little. Unless we have a coyote attack, we should have plenty to sell for the holidays, and plenty to keep for next year's eggs/babies.

I just realized we are all doing this cross-threading thing. I've got Trekkies beaming in and out of my thread, and my turkeys are cavorting in Maggies Menagerie. Hey Captain! Perhaps we need a "Miscellaneous" thread. Naw...I don't think it would help.

Aw comrades, going with the flow works for me too. Just post wherever you get the urge - do what feels good - I still subscribe to the Pepsi Generation. And if ya can't find the right discussion to add thoughts to, or want to start a new conversation,,, feel free to open a new thread!

A baby red headed woodpecker with a bandit mask face was hopping around on the tree trunk, not 5 feet away from me today. Of course by the time I went in and got the camera, he had made his way higher up the tree, out of good range.
But I did find some other interesting pics in the camera from the same week I caught that little mockingbird above. Sorry to do it again to you Terry, but if it makes you feel any better, I still haven't caught a good shot of the most vivid bird here - the solid red Cardinal. They are so shy.
Anyway here is the mother of the mocker baby above

I know its only a black silhouette, but thought it was neat to catch her with the baby's breakfast.

And here's the baby Blue Jay. Considering that both the babies were found in the same border, does that equate to 2 in the bush being better than one in the hand?
heehee

I can't get shots like that, and I have 200 birds on tap so to speak. I know the Jays can be secretive as well so that makes the second picture even more remarkable.

Maggie, if the baby woodpecker is around tomorrow morning please CALL ME so I can quickly run over for a peek! It would soooo make my day.

I can't promise you he'll be around, but,,, come by anyway Gail and bring a bathing suit, a bowling ball, $20 worth of pennies and epoxy glue. And don't anyone get too excited about that list ;-) It's a yard-art craft project!!!

Of the few pics I took of the woodpecker after he had hopped too high up (while I went for the camera, of course - never fails right Terry?) this is the most (barely) visible. But I thought it better than nadda, for you Gail.

I had zoomed in all the way - can't see any red on the head in the pic. Since the back or top of his head was red, and this is a back view, maybe he had his face turned to me, grinning for the camera? I can't figure it out... warning, trying to, may cause serious eye strain!

Every morning that I have the chance, I try to sit and watch the hummingbirds feeding at the blooms. If I remember to take the camera with me -it is sure to be a no-show. If they are about, and I go in for the cam, they take off. It MUST be a plot.
Do your garden birds play this cruel game too, Terry?

Even the butterflies do it Maggie, They are around for ages then I run in, grab the camera, run back out, adjusting the settings as I go and are there any butterflies, nope. They must all have little camera sensors built in, that's the beauty of photographing flowers, they stay put, but then again it's usually windy if there is one particular bloom that I need to capture. Then after you've gone to all that trouble, the @*&^ laptop goes down and you lose about 600 pics. Such is life, well that's my excuse if August web pages seem a bit thin on the ground at the end of the month. ;-)
Does anyone else have my problem with the smilies, mine always look like this :_) at my first attempt, very little hand brain synchronisation.
Great woodpecker shot though, Maggie, really, I know how hard it is to spot them let alone get a photo.

I think they all have little *binocular* sensors too Terry! Drives Larry mad.
I can't stand the thought of you loosing 600 pics. All that work and pleasure, gone. Hope the new laptop is doing well, tho. I wanna one!
My email server is down today, so I might be later than usual (!) in answering any notes. Gosh, I might have to resort to using the phone to stay in touch with you guys K.
That's the little smiley that Caro found on the 'Formatting' button to left. I'd use it more often if I could remember the code w/o having to pull it up every time!

JJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJ
JJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJ

More toys J

oh I see the curved one now! J

Like to play 'Name That Bird'?

My guess is that it's a female Red-breasted Nuthatch. Field marks are gray crown, white eyebrow, black line through eye, stubby tail. My bird book also includes "rust underparts" as a field mark for both male & female red-breasted nuthatch. The accompanying photo shows a female with whitish underparts and a very faint tan color just below the wings.

Just showing off with the bird photos again Maggie. Good thing Susan bet me, I would have gone for a treecreeper, but I'm not up on your local wildlife, if it's not in my aviary then I don't know it J

BINGO Susan! good job! Does your book mention their song? It is fabulous! Do you have them around Seattle? It was such a fuzzy pic, taken through glass door that I wasn't even going to post it, then decided maybe it might be interesting to ID because she was a little 'furry'! They only began appearing here 2 or 3 years ago for the first time and now there is a good many.

Not trying to outdo you Terry ;-)... couldn't even come close to it what with the quality of your pics! I think the reason for so many bird shots is that we have no cats in the garden to spook them away. And that the birds must have decided that I'm never going to stop coming out that door, so they might as well just tolerate my presence among them!

We do have red-breasted nuthatches in the Pacific NW. I see them snatching a sunflower seed from our feeder and going elsewhere to eat it, or creeping up or down one of our Douglas firs. I hear a lot of interesting bird calls, but most of the time I can't spot the bird that's making the sounds.

Speaking of birdsong, does anyone know where to find a good recording of a nightingale on line? I've visited home.hccnet.nl and was a bit disappointed in their recording. All those years of imagining the song of a nightingale led me to expect something different.

I went to that url without luck Susan. Larry is the birdcall ear in our garden. He never misses a new visitor, hearing it long before we spot it too. Terry you are our web-birdman, do you know of any sites with birdsounds?

I might have, before I lost all my bookmarks..sorry.

WHen I get home, I'll look. I use to have a great place for calls and pixes.

Try this one, only just found it so not checked it out.
http://www.math.sunysb.edu/~tony/birds/

Terry, Many thanks. That's a super site. The Musician Wren is very unusual. The site also has songs of mockingbirds with handy comparisons of the birds being imitated. There's a recording of a mockingbird imitating a digital alarm clock!

As you see, I had to get into the act with some colored text! J

Yeah for playing colors with us Susan!
Terry has gone to where it is even cooler than Yorkie, the rat.

It's always so sad when insects and critters land in the pool, but it does slow them down for a closer inspection.

The good news is, that when we get to them quickly enough, they soon recover and are returned to business. Dragonflies and butterflies even resume flight when dry.

Well. Your "snake in the pool" beats my "frog in the pool."

I know they are good. I know they are beneficial. I just can't help it. I HATE snakes and frogs!!!

Last night we discovered what my mystery insect is. Terry was right. Mayfly. We had about a 5 minute downpour yesterday, which basically just cleared the air, which then promptly became humid. Last night there were millions of them in the pool. Why? I have no idea. But my friend and I were going out to swim, and holy moly, the entire surface was covered with the things. So hubby spent the next hour or so skimming them out of the pool. This morning there was a huge bullfrog in one of the skimmers....presumably eating the insects trapped there. I couldn't easily get the frog outta the pool, and truthfully, I didn't try too hard. Went and got Son and he went to get the fishing net that we use to catch wayward chickens, and he caught the frog as it made its escape from the skimmer. Yuck! Then, we were FINALLY able to enjoy a day in the pool, sans frog, sans bugs. Weather note: 113 degrees. Its 8:15 now and still 99.

The squirrels are busy harvesting ALL our pecans and running rampant in general. When the wind blew one of their nests down intact I thought it might be good to share the close up view. Not sure why I stuck it in a bowl, since it retained that shape even after the windfall, nonetheless..

Kitty needs a home ... and who could resist???

It's his best angle.

I've seen this sweetie in person and he is darling! I was picturing all us Texans shipping him off as a surprise to our English friends. But it would be a tough choice -- do we ship him to Terry or Nicola....hmmmmmm....

I feel certain that after a few days in a crate, this little creature would be a great surprise and DELIGHT to either of them. What do you think, David? Caro? Maggie?

Christine says get him crated up. He is a lovely colour, we don't get many grey tabbies around here. He looks as though he could be a show kitty with those markings.

Isn't he just gorgeeegemous - Christine has a good eye! Wouldn't that be great if he had those spots all over?! I think there is breed that is known for that - and very pricey. The older he gets, the more the spots are showing some on his sides too. Course, it might just be because he eats so much that his tummy sticks out at the sides! It's getting harder and harder for me to stick to my plan of keeping him only long enough to rescue him.

Watch out Maggie, they take you over then you can't let go. I think it's a mind control thing, they purr, rub their soft bodies all over you, look at you with those big eyes and then ask "if I stay here and make you my slave would you mind?"
p.s. Women do something similar to men (I can dream can't I?)

the kitten is really cute

and aren't you a lovely person

My friends mother found a bird egg and I wanted to know if it would hatch. She said it wouldn't but it did and now they are trying to take care of it. The mother had left it on it's own for a few mins(to get food) they all know it lived in the tree in the front, and they all know the mother went to get food for herself and when we all found out that the mother had been killed by my friends cat we thought the father would take care of it. But after a hour we all know the dad was not coming back so they got the egg and they are now feeding it and care for it! They also called it litttle one (they had to make a name for it, I mean who wouldn't give it a name).

That is amazing Jennifer! I too would have not expected it to hatch. The timing must have been just right. Wonder what kind of bird it is?

A house wren made a nest in my little greenhouse shed this spring. Since I spend so much time at the potting bench in April, I was able to see firsthand how often the parents fed their three chicks - constantly from sun up to sun down. By the time they came off the nest, I was thinking there couldn't possibly be a single bug left in the neighborhood :-) esp considering how many more nest-fulls were being tended to in the yard.

Most of the mealtime bugs that I saw were a gardens undesirables, but there were also many caterpillars being escorted into the nest. To me, they are not the enemy. I plant rue, parsley and dill mainly to feed flocks of swallowtail butterfly's larva, but it has been sad to see that the host plants haven't been eaten down the ground (as usual) by the caterpillars this year, and I'm sure its due to those ever so efficient feathered parents.

I hope your friends can supply dear Littleone with enough meals to keep her growing strong and eventually experience that magical first flight. Thank you J, for telling us about this extraordinary event.